Tasmania had the nation’s strongest retail sales growth rate in July as it pushed to another all-time monthly turnover record. Tasmanian turnover increased by $3.4 million to $543 million in July, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics trend terms figures. No other state or territory matched that 0.6 per cent growth rate, while national turnover was flat in seasonally adjusted terms. July was a 45th straight month of Tasmanian turnover growth. Treasurer Peter Gutwein said Tasmanian retail trade grew by 4.8 per cent over the year to July 2018, which was “the second-fastest annual growth rate in the nation and well above the national average”. The state set monthly turnover records in several retail categories in July. That included food retail, which picked up by $1.7 million to $244.9 million. That was due to increased sales at supermarkets and grocery stores. They were also up by $1.7 per cent, to a record $211 million. The food category also includes “other specialised food retailing” and alcohol sales. Eating out was also an increasingly lucrative sector. Spending on cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services increased by $600,000 to a record $59.1 million. That was due to a $600,000 increase to a record $29.7 million for cafes, restaurants and catering services. Takeaway turnover dropped slightly to $29.3 million. Sales of household goods increased by $400,000 to $99.9 million. They were boosted by strengthening sales of electrical and electronic goods, which were up by $400,000 to a record $37 million. Sales of clothing, footwear and personal accessories lifted by $100,000 to $29.2 million, but newspapers and books combined had their weakest month since 2015. They dropped by $300,000 to $9.8 million. Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and toiletries dropped $200,000 to $27.2 million. Other recreational goods increased turnover by $100,000 to a record $14.5 million. That category includes sport and camping equipment, entertainment media retail and toys and games. The flat national turnover result followed 0.4 per cent increases in each of May and June. The ABS said there were national falls in turnover of household goods and clothing, footwear and personal accessories and at department stores in July. Food, “other retailing” and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services lifted.

Tasmanian retail sales growth leading nation: ABS

Tasmania had the nation’s strongest retail sales growth rate in July as it pushed to another all-time monthly turnover record.

Tasmania has set another retail sales record.

Tasmanian turnover increased by $3.4 million to $543 million in July, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics trend terms figures.

No other state or territory matched that 0.6 per cent growth rate, while national turnover was flat in seasonally adjusted terms.

July was a 45th straight month of Tasmanian turnover growth.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said Tasmanian retail trade grew by 4.8 per cent over the year to July 2018, which was “the second-fastest annual growth rate in the nation and well above the national average”.

The state set monthly turnover records in several retail categories in July.

That included food retail, which picked up by $1.7 million to $244.9 million.

That was due to increased sales at supermarkets and grocery stores.

They were also up by $1.7 per cent, to a record $211 million.

The food category also includes “other specialised food retailing” and alcohol sales.

Eating out was also an increasingly lucrative sector.

Spending on cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services increased by $600,000 to a record $59.1 million.

That was due to a $600,000 increase to a record $29.7 million for cafes, restaurants and catering services.

Takeaway turnover dropped slightly to $29.3 million.

Sales of household goods increased by $400,000 to $99.9 million.

They were boosted by strengthening sales of electrical and electronic goods, which were up by $400,000 to a record $37 million.

Sales of clothing, footwear and personal accessories lifted by $100,000 to $29.2 million, but newspapers and books combined had their weakest month since 2015.